We are wrapping up Golden Week / Mid Autumn Festival and it is reminding me, normally at this time we would all be diving head first into trade show season. Phase 1 of the Canton Fair, Global Sources, and all the others would be starting now and it would be an intense month or so of phase 1, 2 3. … Read More
Entering Golden Week (Tips for Q4)
Dear Global Business Enthusiast, For those not in China – a week long holiday starting up today here in China – the Golden week. Hong Kong has two days off, Thursday and Friday. Mainland China will return from this holiday next Thursday October 8 – so don’t expect many replies from your factories or business dealings for a while. The … Read More
Free Webinar On Asia Business Growth Strategies (+Online Networking)
Dear Global Business Enthusiast, As we enter Q4 of 2020, we want to invite you to a first of its kind webinar – not the normal one where you’re on mute and it is boring. An interactive webinar with virtual tables and virtual networking as well as amazing content to share on growing your business with Asia. Plus, we will … Read More
The Truth is Paywalled but the Lies are Free
I wish that I could say that these words were facetious or, seeing as they aren’t, that I had said them first. Unfortunately, neither is true – the quote is from Current Affairs on August 8th and it pithily crystallizes the current conundrum….fake news abounds and it’s free – Breitbart, Fox, Q’Anon…as are all the conspiracy mongerers not fit to … Read More
Figures Don’t Lie, Liars Figure!
Good day, all – I hope that you are all well and doing everything possible to stay safe. The saying, “Figures don’t lie but liars figure”, was first told to me by my father-in-law, the late Louis Orenstein, QC z”l, a brilliant lawyer and a real down-to-earth principled man. The statement itself has been attributed both to a brilliant statistician … Read More
The World’s Gone Quackers!
On June 30th, 2020, the Nikkei Asian Review’s headline was succinct, “China retreats from 50-year pledge of Hong Kong’s autonomy”. The next day, July 1st, the National Security Law went into effect, giving the police the right to break into premises and to also monitor phones and computers, all without a warrant. It is now against the law to criticize … Read More
Sad, Very Sad, Yugely Sad
Well, it’s been 3 days since my last rant and, judging by the amount of immediately favourable responses, maybe I should give up on reporting the news and stick to rants and raves LOL All joking aside, though, there is a lot of news out there and it is often difficult for the well-intentioned person to find it amongst the … Read More
China’s TikTok Caught Spying on Millions of iPhone Users
China’s video sharing app TikTok has been caught spying on millions of iPhone users. Earlier this year, Forbes writer Zak Doffman reported on a technical issue with iOS 14. The exploit allowed for people to access the clipboard on a person’s device. Doffman warned that this exploit could be used to abuse the privacy of users. This exploit was fixed … Read More
Most of China’s BRI Projects Abroad Hit By Pandemic
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects abroad have been adversely hit by the pandemic. The BRI is a billions worth plan from China. This project was launched back in 2013 when President Xi Jinping came into office. It has several objectives. First, it is to extend its influence in foreign countries. It will also boost China’s trade and investment. … Read More
“V” Stands For?
Hi – I hope that all are well, wearing their masks, and washing their hands. I had already spent about 10 hours making and arranging notes for this column but then decided to instead write free-style about something that affects all of us. Remember when people used to declaim about “the good old days”? Generally they were ‘old’ ie. 60+. … Read More